Exploration: Hymn Language Directions: Look up the meanings for the italicized words in the following lines, taken from well-known hymns. A. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..." Wretch(N) 1. a miserable person : one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune, 2. a base, despicable, or vile person B. "Rock of ages, cleft for me..." Cleft (N) 1. a space or opening made by or as if by splitting. C. "Now let the vault of heaven resound..." Vault (N) 1. an arched structure of masonry usually forming a ceiling or roof. 2. a room or compartment for the safekeeping of valuables
Sources
"cleft." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 24 Oct 2012.
"vault." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 24 Oct 2012.
"wretch." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 24 Oct 2012.
1. Do you use any of these words today?
Yes, I use the adjective form of wretch and I use the term vault. 2. How do these words and their definitions illustrate how language changes over time? Wretch- People do not really use the term wretch anymore. They do use the adjective form of the word, wretched. This shows the shift from using descriptive nouns to adjectives. Cleft- I believe that this word is probably still used in some circles (scientist), but not in everyday languages. I believe this is due to specialization. This word now has a more narrow meaning than it did when the hymn was written. Vault- The use of this term in the hymnal is clearly not how we use it today. They are referring to the first definition, while, most people today are referring to the second definition. I believe this is due to degradation. What was once meant as spacious and high now can mean dark, small, and secretive. The only time people today use this term and are referring to the first definition is when they are describing a specific type of architecture called "vaulted ceilings". If a person is looking from this angle the evolution of language would be specialization.
Andrews Text Chapter 8 Page 238
Exploration: Hymn Language
Directions: Look up the meanings for the italicized words in the following lines, taken from well-known hymns.
A. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..."
Wretch(N) 1. a miserable person : one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune, 2. a base, despicable, or vile person
B. "Rock of ages, cleft for me..."
Cleft (N) 1. a space or opening made by or as if by splitting.
C. "Now let the vault of heaven resound..."
Vault (N) 1. an arched structure of masonry usually forming a ceiling or roof. 2. a room or compartment for the safekeeping of valuables
Sources
"cleft." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 24 Oct 2012.
"vault." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 24 Oct 2012.
"wretch." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 24 Oct 2012.
1. Do you use any of these words today?
Yes, I use the adjective form of wretch and I use the term vault.
2. How do these words and their definitions illustrate how language changes over time?
Wretch- People do not really use the term wretch anymore. They do use the adjective form of the word, wretched. This shows the shift from using descriptive nouns to adjectives.
Cleft- I believe that this word is probably still used in some circles (scientist), but not in everyday languages. I believe this is due to specialization. This word now has a more narrow meaning than it did when the hymn was written.
Vault- The use of this term in the hymnal is clearly not how we use it today. They are referring to the first definition, while, most people today are referring to the second definition. I believe this is due to degradation. What was once meant as spacious and high now can mean dark, small, and secretive. The only time people today use this term and are referring to the first definition is when they are describing a specific type of architecture called "vaulted ceilings". If a person is looking from this angle the evolution of language would be specialization.